The sophisticated sound of Avec Sans already has them on the lips of Vogue.com, luxury designers Dolce & Gabbana and has even led to them being asked to design a shoe for edgy London designers SWEAR. Kylie Minogue’s Director of Music has publicly expressed his support for the band and at radio they’ve gained national radio playlisting from XFM as well as coverage from BBC 6 Music, Kerrang, Capital and a No 1 charting single on Amazing Radio. Duo Alice Fox and Jack St.James combine the glassy synth sounds of the 80’s with the punchy heat of London youth.

Rarely for such an aesthetic group, Avec Sans have the blogosphere stats to back their glossy credentials. A significant force on Hype Machine they’ve been in the Top 5 Twitter and regular chart rankings. In fact they’ve been picking up props on both sides of the industry, getting coverage from the likes of Record of the Day, Music Week, BBC Introducing and The Guardian. Sony, Epic have also put them on remix duties and they’ve been earning their live performance stripes across London’s showpiece venues. Their live show delivers more of a performance than would be expected from an electronic act and the equipment is tilted towards the audience on custom made stands. Their unconventional use of Novation’s launch pads has lead to them becoming key Novation endorsees and they have filmed live performances with up to 24 launch pads in situ, forming a light show, as programmed by St James.

With elegant production and a vocalist with natural poise Avec Sans are making dark, brooding pop music beyond their years for a future world where all pop music looks and sounds this good.

Avec Sans is comprised of London-based duo Jack St James and Alice Fox who after repeatedly finding each other at the same gigs, decided to start a collaboration. After period of time behind closed doors, in late May 2012 St James and Fox emerged online as Avec Sans and rapidly began gathering momentum. Within an hour of putting a track online, they had been picked up by an influential blogger who immediately wrote about them. A couple of hours after he posted their track, they were setting the blogosphere alight and getting gig offers on the strength of that track alone.

St James is Trinidadian, whilst growing up, his family had a nomadic lifestyle, living in countries including Zaire, Gabon, Congo, Cameroon, Oman and France before setting up home in the south of England. Fox is a Mancunian who gave up a potential career in crime-fighting to make music; her first line of work was in a Manchester gun crime unit. After a few months on the job, Fox discovered that her predecessor left the job (alive) but in the boot of a car after witnessing a shooting. Both Fox and St James have now made London their permanent home.

“Think simple but sweet electro in the Chvrches mould.”The 405

‘Distinctly 80’s-flavoured… effervescently poppy.’The Line Of Best Fit

‘An effortlessly intriguing example of how synth-pop can still usher in waves of chandelier suave.’Noisey

“Full of early promise …it’s easy to see why the duo have drawn comparisons to Chvrches… a talent to keep your eye on.”Digital Spy

“Like a lot of the best pop things ever they make smart, straightforward electronic pop with proper choruses.”Pop Justice

“As a duo they’re the total package…a sonic powerhouse.”Nylon

“Synth-pop is clear-cut in its intentions: to captivate and intrigue with equal measure.”Notion

Track of the Day

Vogue.com

“Indie music sensations… killer sound.”Elle Magazine

ONLINE HIGHLIGHTS (Since late July 2012)

Top 5 Ranking Hype Machine

Top 10 Twitter Ranking on Hype Machine

No1 on Swide’sTop 5 New Music Artists of 2012

One of Swide’s Top Sounds for November 2012

One of Les Inrocks’ Tracks of the Week

Fred Perry Subculture Feature

Over 200 unique blog posts

“Oh so awesome!” Indie Shuffle

“Pretty badass, if you ask me” The Wounded Jukebox

“Avec Sans has a hit on their hands with this one” The Record Stache

“Amazing x amazing x amazing = A.M.A.Z.I.N.G” Breaking More Waves

“Could Avec Sans be the UK’s answer to Purity Ring?” Crack In The Road

“They are called Alice Fox and Jack St James: even their names are class.” Les Inrocks

“London’s Alice Fox & Jack St. James have been creating waves with their mix of synth-pop, bringing sad love to the dance floor… it’s no wonder these guys having been getting a lot of attention from record labels.”

“They’ll be coming to a major label near you, that’s almost a complete certainty”

This is Fake DIY Radio

“The feeling I have when I listen to them, I haven’t felt since I heard Frou Frou for the first time”

Kevin Hingley – Q Radio

“A lovely slice of cascading heartfelt beat pop with a bit of dirt in there, along the lines of Sleigh Bells.”

Gill Mills, Amazing Radio

“The Answer is powerful and all-encompassing. Its verses circle around you, all glitchy and tense, before diving into the chorus and flooring you. They hit the number one spot on The Amazing Chart with their previous single, just you watch it climb the heights again this time round…”